Xoloitzcuintli

The Xoloitzcuintli — the Mexican hairless — is one of the oldest dogs in the Americas, and comes in three sizes and two coats.

History

Its name joins Xolotl, the Aztec god of lightning and death, with itzcuintli, dog; the breed appears in West Mexican tomb figures more than two thousand years old and was believed to guide the dead through the underworld. It was close to disappearing by the mid-twentieth century, and a Mexican expedition in the 1950s went looking for surviving dogs in remote villages to rebuild it.

Temperament

The breed is known for being calm, watchful and closely attached to its household, reserved with strangers and quieter than most primitive breeds.

Care and training

Exercise needs are moderate. The hairless variety needs sun protection, warmth and skin care; the coated variety needs very little grooming. Early socialising helps with the natural reserve.

Health

Generally robust, with the dental irregularities linked to the hairless gene and skin conditions as the main documented concerns. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.